Serial number printing apparatus



March 16, 1965 F. J. L. TURNER 3,173,359

SERIAL NUMBER PRINTING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1963 Inventor FREDERICK1/. L. TURNER Attorney United States Patent C) 3,173,359 SERIAL NUMBERPRINTING APPARATUS Frederick James Leslie Turner, Croydon, Surrey,England,

assignor to Creed :8: Company Limited, Croydon, Surrey, England, aBritish company Filed Mar. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 262,470 Claims priority,application Great Britain, Mar. 2, 1962, 8,161/62 6 Claims. (Cl. Mil-79)Apparatus for printing articles with a serial number are well known,such apparatus including means for increasing the serial number, printedin one printing operation, by one digit for the next printing operation.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus for eifecting the printing of serial numbers on, for example,data bearing media such as perforated tapes and the like used inteleprinter and data processing systems. Such apparatus being sometimesassociated with a system which operates the apparatus by a singleelectrical current signal to print a serial number on the tape and toincrease the serial number by one digit for a succeeding printingoperation.

According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, there isprovided apparatus for printing a serial number on data bearing mediaincluding a plurality of type-wheels arranged in a row; means forsetting one or more of the type-wheels to positions indicative of aserial number to be printed; a printing hammer for striking a databearing medium in such a manner as to move the said medium toward thesaid type-wheels; an inking-tape disposed between said medium to beprinted on and said type-wheels so that the serial number set up thereonis printed on the said medium; a solenoid means for operating saidtype-wheel setting means and said printing hammer; and a latch forretaining said printing hammer inoperative until said setting or" saidtype-Wheels, to indicate the serial number, has been effected.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is providedapparatus for printing a serial number on data bearing media including arow of type-wheels each having a series of raised numerals disposedaround its periphery; ratchet and pawl arrangements for said type-wheelsoperative to set one or more of the said type-wheels to positions toindicate a serial number to be printed on a data bearing medium; a barfor operating said ratchet and pawl means; a lever engaging said bar; asolenoid means operative by an electric current signal to cause saidsetting of the type-wheels by said lever, said bar, and said ratchet andpawl arrangements; a printing hammer assembly including a hammerhead andspring means for causing said assembly to move with respect to saidlever on termination of said setting of the typewheels; an inking-tapebetween said hammer-head and said type-wheels; and latching means forengaging and retaining said hammer assembly at rest during said settingoperation and operative thereafter by said lever to disengage itselffrom the hammer assembly, said hammer assembly then moving under theinfluence of said spring means so that the head thereof effects printingof the serial number on a data bearing medium by moving the said mediuminto contact with the inking medium and the inking medium into contactwith said row of raised numerals indicative of the said serial number.

An embodiment of the invention is now to be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus; and

FIQGS. 2 and 3 are respectively end and side elevations of type-whelswith respect to an inking ribbon and a tape.

Referring in the first instance to PEG. 1, a number of type-wheels 1,for example three, representing units, tens,

ice

and hundreds respectively, are mounted in a row on a common spindle 3.Each type-wheel, has a series of raised numeral types equispaced aroundthe periphery, the series ranging from 0 to 9. For each type-wheel 1there is incorporated a ratchet-whel 4 which is arranged to effectmovement of the type-wheel through one digit position at appropriatetimes. For example, the units type-wheel will move through one digitposition for each movement of its ratchet-whel 4 through one toothposition, whilst the tens type-wheel will move through one digitposition for each movement of its ratchet-wheel, such as 4, through tendigit positions, etc.

The mechanisms for effecting these movements of the type-wheels by theirrespective ratchet-wheels is Wellknown and need not be described herein.Each ratchet wheel, such as 4, has an associated pawl, such as 17, foreffecting the movements, and the pawl is mounted on a pawl arm, such as5, pivotally accommodated on the common spindle 3. The pawl arms, suchas 5, are interconneoted by a connecting bar 6 afiixed to each of thearms.

Pivotally mounted on a spindle 7 there is a hammer assembly comprising ahammer stock 8 having afllxed thereto a spring blade 10 and ahammer-head 22 constituted by a rubber block affixed to the free end ofthe spring blade. The hammer-head 22 is arranged with respect to thetype-wheels, such as 4, so that when a printing operation takes place,the lower face of the hammerhead 22 is caused to engage with a tape Twhich in turn engages an inking ribbon 2i, and the inking ribbon engages with a row of raised numerals, representative of a serial number,on the type-wheels. FIGS. 2 and 3 show respectively end and side viewsof the dispositions of the type-wheels 1 with respect to the hammer-head22, the tape T and the inking ribbon 21.

The inking ribbon 21 is wound on spools 23 and 24 and fed from one spoolonto another by way of pulleys, such as 25, and by a well-known type ofmechanical linkage between the spools and an operating lever 9.

The operating lever 9 is also pivotally mounted on spindle 7 and has aforked portion at its free end which is arranged to engage the bar 6. Anabutment screw 11 engages in a tapped hole in the hammer stock 8 and isrotatable therein to permit adjustment of its position, so that relativedisplacement may be maintained between the hammer stock 8 and theoperating lever 9 which are biased toward each other by a tension spring12 afiixed at its ends to pins 26 and 2'7 extending respectively fromthe hammer stock and operating lever. A tension spring 19 is afiixed atone of its ends to a pin 28 extending from the operating lever 9 and atits other end to a pin 29 in the apparatus frame (not shown).

The plunger 3t) of a solenoid 31 is pivotally connected to the operatinglever 9 by a link member, such as 18. An L-shapcd latch 13 is pivotallymounted at the juncture of its two legs on a pin 14 afiixed to theapparatus frame (not shown). The longer upper leg of the latch issteplike in form and is arranged to be biased into engagement with thefree end of the hammer stock 8 by a tension spring 16 affixed to thelatch 13 and to a pin 32 extending from the apparatus frame (not shown).A pin 15 extends from the side of the operating lever 9 and is arrangedto engage the shorter leg of the latch 13. A stop pin 2d, aiiixed to theapparatus frame (not shown), is arranged to be engaged by the operatinglever 9 to permit only limited pivoting movement thereof in a clockwisedirection under the influence of the tension spring 19.

Operation of the apparatus is now to be described with reference toFIG. 1. The tape T is passed between the hammer-head 22 and theinking-ribbon 21; and at an appropriate time, when it is desired toapply a serial number to the tape, the solenoid 31 is energised by anelectric current signal and the plunger 30 is drawn into the core bymagnetic attraction. Through the link member 18, the operating lever 9is caused to pivot in an anticlockwise direction about the axis ofspindle 7 against the influence of tension spring 19.

Whilst this pivoting movement of operating lever 9 is taking place, thehammer stock 8, and in consequence the spring blade fit and thehammer-head 22, are held from movement with the operating lever 9, underthe action of the tension spring 12, by latch 13, the stepped portion ofwhich is in engagement with the free end of the hammer stock ti.

Movement of the operating lever 9 with respect to the hammer stock Scauses an increase in the tension of spring 12 disposed therebetween.This pivoting movement of operating lever 9 causes connecting bar 6,engaged by the forked end of operating lever 9, to pivot the pawl-arms,such as 5, in a clockwise direction about the axis of spindle 3. Thepivoting action of the pawl-arms 5, in turn, cause pawls, such as 17 torotate ratchetwheels, such as 4, in a clockwise direction through onetooth postion. One or more type-wheels, such as 1, are then movedthrough one digit position by well-known means to indicate the nextaerial number to be printed.

irectly after the movement of the type-wheel or typewheels has beeneffected, the operating lever 9, in its pivoting movement, reaches aposition in which the pin extending therefrom, engages the short leg ofthe latch 13 and causes the latch to pivot about the axis of pin 14 inan anticlockwise direction. This pivoting action of the latch 13withdraws the stepped longer leg thereof out ofengagement with the freeend of the hammer stock 8; The hammer stock 8, spring blade 19, and thehammer-head 2 2. are therefore permitted to pivot in an anticlockwisedirection under the influence of tension spring 12; During this pivotingmovement, the abutment screw ll in the hammer stock 8 engages with theoperating lever 9 to arrest movement of the hammer stock 8 with thehammer 22 spaced from the tape, as shown in FIG. 1. However, the inertiaof spring blade lit and the hammerhead 22 causesthe blade to bend abouta point where the blade separates from engagement with the hammer stock8. Thisbending action continues and permits the hammer-head 22 to engagethe tape T, to bring it into engagement with the inking-ribbon 21, andthe inkingribbon in turn into engagement with the raised numerals of thetype-wheels, such as 4, thus etfecting printing of the serial number onthe tape. The hammer-head 22 is then immediately lifted out ofengagement with the tape under the action of the spring blade 10 takingup its normal postion with respect to the hammer stock 8.

On termination of the electrical signal pulse, the operating lever 9 .ispermitted to move about its pivot back to its original position underthe influence of tension spring 1?, taking with it the hammer stock 8,and in consequence the spring blade 10 and the hammer-head 22.

The latch 13 is re-set to its original position when the end of thehammer stock 8 again comes into a position in which it can be engaged bythe stepped end of the latch 13; and the pawl-arm, such as 5, and thepawls such as 17, thereon are pivoted in an anticlockwise directionunder the action of connecting bar 6 to bring the pawls into engagementwith succeeding teeth of the ratchetwheels prior to the next printingoperation.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description of specificexamples of this invention is not to be considered as a limitation onits scope.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for printing a sequence of serial numbers comprising aplurality of types representing numerals; means for arranging said typesto represent a serial number; step-by-step type setting means forrearranging said types at each step to represent a succession of serialnumbers; an operating lever mounted for limited movement ina-predetermined path; means for normally urging said lever towards aposition of rest; means operatively connecting said lever to said typesetting means, whereby movement of said lever in a predetermineddirection away from said position of rest will cause one step in saidtype etting means to rearrange said types to represent the nextsuccessive serial number; means comprising a print hammer mounted formovement towards and away from said types and arranged to cause printingof the serial number to which said types have been set on a databearmedium supported adjacent said types when said harnmer reaches limitor its movement towards said types; means operativel connecting saidlever and said hammer for storing energy when said hammer remains at thelimit of its movement away from said types and said lever is moved insaid predetermined direction to rearrange said types; latch means forholding said hammer at the limit of its movement away from said typeswhen said lever is so moved; means on said lever for releasing saidlatch means when said lever has reached the end of its move ment in saidpredetermined direction and said types have been rearranged to representthe next successive serial number, whereby said hammer will move underthe action of said energy storing means towards said types and printingof said serial number will be efiected; and means for moving said leverin said predetermined direction.

Apparatus for printing a sequence of serial numbers comprising aplurality of types arranged in a row to represent a serial number;step-by-step type setting means adapted at each operation thereof torearrange said types to represent the next succeeding serial number; aprint hammer mounted for movement towards and away from said types andadapted to cause printing of the number set up on said types when saidhammer reaches the limit of its movement towards said types; singleoperating means mounted for limited movement in a predetermined path;means for normally holding said operating means at a position of rest atone limit of its movement; means connecting said operating means withsaid type setting means for causing operation thereof when saidoperating means is moved in a predetermined direction in said path; stopmeans on said operating means adapted to engage said print hammer forestablishing the rest position of said print hammer when said operatingmeans is in its rest position and the other limit of movement of saidprint hammer when said operating means is at the other limit of itsmovement; means connecting said operating means with said print hammerfor storing energy when said print hammer is held in its rest positionand said operating means is moved in said predetermined direction; latchmeans for holding said print hammer in its rest position when saidoperating means is so moved; and means on said operating means forreleasing'said latch means when said operating means has reached thelimit of its movement in said predetermined direction, whereby saidprint hammer is urged towards said types by said energy storing meansuntil it is stopped by said stop means.

3. Apparatus, according to claim 2, further comprising means foradjusting the relative position of the print hammer and the stop meansto adjust thereby the limits of movement of said print hammer.

4. A printing mechanism comprising an operating lever having a givenrest position and adapted to have limited movement in a given path; aprint hammer unit also mounted for limited movement in a given path;resilient coupling means between said unit and said lever and adapted tostore energy when relative movement in a given sense occurs between saidlever and said print ham-t mer unit; a movable latch member normallypositioned to pr vent movement of said print hammer unit when relativemovement in said given sense occurs by displace-.

ment of said operating lever from said rest position; printing mechanismadapted to be operated by said hammer unit; a latch release memberextending from said operating lever at a given point thereon forreleasing said latch,

member only after said lever has undergone a predetermined displacementin said given sense from said given rest position to permit said printhammer unit to be moved into operative relation with said printingmechanism; and means for moving said operating lever out of said restposition to produce relative movement in said given sense between saidprint hammer unit and said lever.

5. A mechanism, according to claim 4, including means operativelycoupled to said operating lever for varying the indication to be printedby said mechanism during said predetermined displacement of said armfrom said given rest position.

6. A mechanism, according to claim 5, wherein said hammer unit includesa hammer stock, the resilient coupling means being between said stockand said operating lever; a hammer head, and a leaf-spring member c0nneeting said hammer head to said stock for inertiaiiy imparting aWhip-like movement to said head in association with an abruptdeceleration of said stock; said n echanism further including means forabruptly interrupting the movement of said hammer stock, before saidhammer head reaches its final printing position, following release ofsaid latch member, to thereby impart said Whip-like movement of saidhammer-head.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/58 Larrabee10l287 3/60 Dirks 101-93 WILLIAM B. PENN, ROBERT E. PULFREY,

Examiners.

4. A PRINTING MECHANISM COMPRISING AN OPERATING LEVER HAVING A GIVENREST POSITION AND ADAPTED TO HAVE LIMITED MOVEMENT IN A GIVEN PATH; APRINT HAMMER UNIT ALSO MOUNTED FOR LIMITED MOVEMENT IN A GIVEN PATH;RESILIENT COUPLING MEANS BETWEEN SAID UNIT AND SAID LEVER AND ADAPTED TOSTORE ENERGY WHEN RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN A GIVEN SENSE OCCURS BETWEEN SAIDLEVER AND SAID PRINT HAMMER UNIT; A MOVABLE LATCH MEMBER NORMALLYPOSITIONED TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF SAID PRINT HAMMER UNIT WHEN RELATIVEMOVEMENT IN SAID GIVEN SENSE OCCURS BY DISPLACEMENT OF SAID OPERATINGLEVER FROM SAID REST POSITION; PRINTING MECHANISM ADAPTED TO BE OPERATEDBY SAID HAMMER UNIT; A LATCH RELEASE MEMBER EXTENDING FROM SAIDOPERATING LEVER AT A GIVEN POINT THEREON FOR RELEASING SAID LATCH MEMBERONLY AFTER SAID LEVER HAS UNDERGONE A PREDETERMINED DISPLACEMENT IN SAIDGIVEN SENSE FROM SAID GIVEN REST POSITION TO PERMIT SAID PRINT HAMMERRUNIT TO BE MOVED INTO OPERATIVE RELATION WITH SAID PRINTING MECHANISM;AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID OPERATING LEVER OUT OF SAID REST POSITION TOPRODUCE RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN SAID GIVEN SENSE BETWEEN SAID PRINT HAMMERUNIT AND SAID LEVER.